“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get,” is a line taken from the timeless film that is Forrest Gump. The same attitude can be applied to Nazare. In the last few years, Portugal’s premier big wave spot has thrown a lot at us. From claims of World Record ridden waves, to collisions between surfers in XXL conditions, Nazare certainly knows how to entertain us, for better or worse. This year’s Tudor Nazare Big Wave Challenge didn’t throw up any notable surprises but it’s clear that the approach to big wave surfing is changing. Gone are the days of simply trying to make the drop out there, competitors are now focusing on riding 60 foot waves, like they’re six foot, putting together carves, laybacks and airs on giant walls of water.

While Nazare was nowhere near as big as she gets, it was solid enough for the competitors to put on a show for the hundreds who lined the cliff. Eighteen invitees were split into nine teams of two. Each team surfed two 45-minute heats. After 4-and-half hours, one team was declared victorious. Awards were also given out for the best male and female performers of the day. 

Nic Von Rupp and Clement Roseyro carved their way to overall victory, while Clement, a former World Longboard Tour competitor, won the men’s best performer and Justine Dupont, won the women’s best performer. It all came down to who could find an open face amongst the teepee’s of Nazare and draw the most aggressive lines on the biggest waves.

The field was stacked with some of the best big wave riders in the sport including Kai Lenny, Lucas Chumbo, the up and coming Scotts man Ben Larg and the UK’s Laura Crane who has made a name for herself at Nazare over the past couple season.

Photographer Peter ‘Joli’ Wilson was on hand to capture some of the action, check out our gallery below.